Buying First Fixed Gear Bike for n00bs
Here are a few suggestions to you newbies when thinking about buying your first fixed gear bike.
When looking to get a fixie for the first time you might look on the internet for a complete already built brand new fixie, but there are way too many other options to explore to just settle for your first thought.
Even though a brand new fixed gear, such as a specialized langster, or a bianchi can be very very nice. I suggest you look into yourself to find what truly fits you, and by fit I mean fits your personality and your body.
Personally at the moment I ride an 08 Surly steamroller, which was a frameset I bought directly from the factory, one reason I bought this frame was because the size of it fit me almost perfectly, and it is extremely comfortable. The only other parts I bought new from Surly were the hubs, the rest of the bike I built from scrap parts which I picked up from warehouses and scrap yards.
It is the bike that I am currently in love with. That might sound weird, but when you find a fixie that truly fits you, I promise you will love it, for any type of riding whether you’re racing around the city, or just going back and forth from school or work.
The way I built my fixie is one way to build a fixie, part new and part old, but the one other way you can create a fixie that is right for you is by building it all from scrap and vintage parts, and if you’re not totally sure how to build a bike. Consult a local shop or an avid rider you know.
So all in all my suggestions for new fixed gear riders is build one that “fits” you, don’t have breaks, or you will get made fun of, and never be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something. So get going, start building a fixie you will love, and once you are done we will as fixed gear riders will embrace you. You will be one of us.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
Just a quick pointer, its “brakes”, not “breaks”. You “brake” to stop, you “break” a glass jar when you drop it.
And they aren’t such horrible things, especially if you’ve got a bum knee ;-). Nice advice though; its fun to build yourself a Frankenstein of a bike from parts you can scrounge, and you’ll be more attached to it to boot.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
HAHAH thanks for pointing out the spelling mistake. I guess I will leave it for shits and giggles.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
“never be afraid to ask a question!”…..”but if you have brakes you’re a girl!!!”
October 17th, 2008 at 1:53 am
I am a “middle aged” (40) rec rider and commuter. I ride road and mtn. I am going to buy a steel fixed gear soon.
I have never rode without a freewheel. (even on bmx when I was a kid) I am somewhat worried to ride w/o brakes.
What chainring to rear cog combo is good for me to learn with? Most fixed riders I see don’t use clip-ins, why?
I would feel more comfortable in my look road shoes.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Well, when biking for commuting it’s not the easiest to rock clipless, so cages are just as good of a solution I’ve been riding for a while now, but what i learned on was a 45- 19 it’s was relevantly easy, but i would say i would have rather learned on something lower, even though 45-19 is fairly low. Plain and simple, learn low then go higher and higher.
November 1st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Let me just first say this - you ride bikes, I ride bikes. That’s something awesome to have in common! But, you’re way off base on this article.
First, no one should start off riding a fixie without brakes. There is a reason TRACK bikes do not have brakes - there aren’t cars and pedestrians and crazies around every corner with the power to kill you. On a track - brakes are unsafe due to the nature of racing. You would (should) know this if you’ve ever raced, or stepped foot on the track. A fixed gear is not a track bike. There is absolutely no reason why someone just getting started riding fixed should venture out brakeless. Hell, I’ll go so far as to say that anyone, new or seasoned, shouldn’t be anywhere BUT the track w/o brakes. And I used to be a no-brakes-guy. Then. My chain popped the cog and I had no way of stopping a very out of control bike on a gnarly hill, short of laying it (and myself) down. This is actually the most ideal of situations. Imagine if the chain had found it’s way back on the cog and completely seized up the rear wheels rotation? I would have had major facial reconstruction.
ANYWAY….point is - rock a front brake. By all means, never use it if you don’t have to…but it could easily save your life.
On gearing - ride around on your geared bike and find a combo that you wouldn’t mind riding in all day. Then just adapt that to what’s possible on a fixie. I ride a 48×16. I like this as it’s a great workout on any climb I encounter, but still very doable, and it’s a nice ratio for flow on the flats - I’m not spinning my brains out!
Good site though! Will bookmark and check back often.
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:20 am
Hey Austin,
Thanks for the great comment. I agree with you about having a break, but lets face it most people don’t do breaks for the same reason they don’t rock helmets. No amount of convincing will change their minds.
Cheers